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Two Vehicles Seized As Delhi Govt Enforces Fuel Ban On Over-Age Vehicles In National Capital

The crackdown follows the alarming findings by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), whose November 2024 analysis found that vehicles contribute 51 per cent of pollution from all local emission sources in Delhi -- making them the single largest source of air pollution in the city. In a major move to combat air pollution, the Delhi government has enforced a strict fuel ban on 'end-of-life' (EoL) vehicles -- petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years -- from being refuelled at petrol pumps across the national capital. Authorities confirmed that two motorcycles have already been identified and seized under the new enforcement, and the vehicles will be scrapped in accordance with the official policy. About The Crackdown The crackdown follows the alarming findings by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), whose November 2024 analysis found that vehicles contribute 51 per cent of pollution from all local emission sources in Delhi -- making them the single largest source of air pollution in the city.

Delhi Begins Fuel Ban For End-of-life Vehicles From Today

According to a November 2024 analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), vehicles are the leading polluters in Delhi, accounting for over half, 51 per cent, of the pollution from local emission sources in the national capital. In a move to tackle vehicular pollution, petrol pumps across Delhi will stop supplying fuel to end-of-life (EoL) vehicles starting Tuesday, 1 July, as per the directive issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The enforcement will be carried out jointly by the Transport Department, Delhi Police and traffic officials. The decision applies to all types of vehicles, including goods carriers, commercial vehicles, vintage cars, and two-wheelers, across the National Capital Region (NCR). Petrol pumps have been directed to display signage stating ‘fuel will not be dispensed to end-of-life vehicles’ and maintain a log of denied fuel transactions. To enforce the ban on fuelling old vehicles, one traffic police officer will be stationed at each of the 350 identified petrol pumps to monitor and prevent the refuelling of end-of-life vehicles. Additionally, two police personnel will be deployed at each pump to maintain law and order. Also, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, installed at 498 fuel stations and integrated with the VAHAN database, will identify non-compliant vehicles by cross-verifying their number plates and alerting the fuel station operator. This information will also be shared with enforcement agencies for the impounding and scrapping of old vehicles. According to a November 2024 analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), vehicles are the leading polluters in Delhi, accounting for over half, 51 per cent, of the pollution from local emission sources in the national capital. Vehicle owners found violating the rules will face penalties, including fines of Rs 10,000 for four-wheelers and Rs 5,000 for two-wheelers, and their vehicles may be impounded. The government has also warned petrol pump owners that non-compliance may attract penalties under Section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

NO fuel for THESE vehicles in Delhi from today: 10 things to know

This crackdown follows a November 2024 study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which found that vehicles contribute nearly 51% of the city’s local emissions — making them the largest single source of pollution. In a major crackdown on vehicular pollution, the Delhi government has started strict enforcement of fuel restrictions on end-of-life (EoL) vehicles from Tuesday, July 1. Under new rules issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), petrol and diesel stations across the National Capital Territory (NCT) will no longer supply fuel to vehicles that have crossed their legal age limit. Ban targets vehicles older than 10 or 15 years As per the rules, diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years will not be allowed to refuel at any fuel station in Delhi. These vehicles, once flagged, will be fined and impounded. Four-wheeler owners found violating the rule will be fined Rs 10,000, while two-wheeler owners will be fined Rs 5,000. Already, two such two-wheelers have been seized and are being processed for scrapping as per the policy. AI cameras to spot banned vehicles To ensure effective implementation, the government has installed AI-enabled Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at 498 petrol stations. These cameras are linked to the national VAHAN database and automatically detect overage vehicles based on their number plates. Once detected, fuel is denied and enforcement teams are alerted for further action. Multi-agency action across fuel stations The Transport Department has deployed 59 special teams and partnered with Delhi Police, Traffic Police, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for monitoring. Delhi Police is managing fuel stations numbered 1 to 100. Transport Department is covering stations numbered 101 to 159. One traffic police officer and two local police personnel are posted at each of the 350 high-risk stations. Traffic Inspector Ashok Kumar told IANS, “According to Delhi government guidelines, vehicles older than the set age will not be allowed to refuel. Four fuel stations in Parliament Street Circle have ANPR systems and teams deployed for enforcement.” Pollution data backed the move This crackdown follows a November 2024 study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which found that vehicles contribute nearly 51% of the city’s local emissions — making them the largest single source of pollution. The new policy is in line with a 2018 Supreme Court order and a 2014 National Green Tribunal (NGT) directive that banned the use and parking of vehicles that exceed their permissible age in Delhi. Clear instructions issued for smooth execution The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a 10-point instruction list to ensure smooth implementation. 1. Ensure that ACsP/TIs have made proper liaison/meeting with local police to facilitate smooth implementation. 2. Detail cranes with sufficient staff at and around the identified petrol pumps to immediately remove impounded/seized vehicles. 3. Ensure that staff deployed at petrol pumps are briefed to behave politely but firmly with vehicle owners. 4. Ensure that fuel stations display notices indicating that fuel will not be dispensed to end-of-life vehicles. 5. Deploy regular mobile patrolling teams in concerned areas to monitor and enforce the regulation. 6. Ensure that ACsP/TIs concerned are monitoring the drive regularly to ensure effective implementation. 7. Ensure that staff are equipped with e-challan machine to identify end-of-life vehicles. 8. Impound/seize end-of-life vehicles found plying or coming to petrol pumps and hand them over to authorized RVSF. 9. Regularly review and monitor the implementation of the regulation. 10. Effective implementation of the CAQM direction is being done.

Two vehicles seized as Delhi enforces fuel ban on over-age vehicles

The crackdown follows the alarming findings by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), whose November 2024 analysis found that vehicles contribute 51 per cent of pollution from all local emission sources in Delhi -- making them the single largest source of air pollution in the city. In a major move to combat air pollution, the Delhi government has enforced a strict fuel ban on 'end-of-life' (EoL) vehicles -- petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years -- from being refuelled at petrol pumps across the national capital. Authorities confirmed that two motorcycles have already been identified and seized under the new enforcement, and the vehicles will be scrapped in accordance with the official policy. The crackdown follows the alarming findings by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), whose November 2024 analysis found that vehicles contribute 51 per cent of pollution from all local emission sources in Delhi -- making them the single largest source of air pollution in the city. The Transport Department has implemented a multi-agency deployment plan involving the Delhi Police, Traffic Police, and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) personnel at strategically chosen petrol stations, particularly those with a high volume of old vehicles. Delhi Police officers have been assigned to petrol stations numbered 1 to 100, while the Transport Department has deployed 59 dedicated teams across stations numbered 101 to 159. One traffic police officer has been stationed at each of the 350 petrol pumps identified for monitoring refuelling activities, with two additional police personnel present at every station to maintain law and order during the drive. To support real-time detection, 498 fuel stations have been equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. These cameras, integrated with the national VAHAN database, automatically identify overage vehicles and alert fuel station operators. Once flagged, details of these vehicles are sent to enforcement teams for immediate action, including impounding and scrapping. Traffic Inspector Ashok Kumar, speaking to IANS, said, "According to the Delhi government's guidelines and directions from senior officers, EoL vehicles which are over 10 years diesel and over 15 years petrol will be acted upon. Four petrol pumps have been identified in the Parliament Street circle with ANPR cameras installed, and we have deployed our transport and local police staff there." "The ANPR cameras will detect the vehicle and trigger an alarm. Our staff has also been given e-Challan software. If any such vehicle is identified, the owner will be informed, and the vehicle will be seized as per procedure and handed over to the Risk-Based Supervisory Framework (RBSF)," he said. He further added, "From the data collected from four petrol pumps so far, we have seized two motorcycles older than 15 years and handed them over to registered scrap dealers. The vehicle owners can claim reimbursement directly from the scrapping authority." Petrol pump staff have also been briefed on the enforcement policy. One employee told IANS, "We've been instructed not to refuel vehicles older than 10 or 15 years. AI cameras installed at the pumps first identify the vehicles, and then we decide whether to provide fuel. If needed, we verify the vehicle's RC and inform the authorities." This comprehensive enforcement is part of the Delhi government's broader effort to curb vehicular emissions and improve the city's air quality.

Fuel Ban on Overaged Vehicles Begins in Delhi, Impacting Over 62 Lakh Vehicles

This move targets one of the primary contributors to Delhi’s air pollution—vehicles—which, according to a 2024 report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), are responsible for over 51% of local emissions. New Delhi: In a major push to combat air pollution, the Delhi government has implemented a ban on dispensing fuel to ‘end-of-life’ vehicles starting today. Under this new rule, petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles over 10 years old will no longer be allowed to refuel at any petrol pump in the capital. This move targets one of the primary contributors to Delhi’s air pollution—vehicles—which, according to a 2024 report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), are responsible for over 51% of local emissions. The enforcement, backed by the Commission for Air Quality Management’s Statutory Direction No. 89, affects all categories of overaged vehicles including private cars, goods carriers, commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, and even vintage vehicles. The scale of the impact is massive—over 62 lakh vehicles in Delhi alone fall under this category. Neighboring states are also affected, with 27.5 lakh overaged vehicles in Haryana, 12.69 lakh in Uttar Pradesh, and 6.2 lakh in Rajasthan, as of March 2025. To ensure strict implementation, the Transport Department has deployed enforcement teams in coordination with Delhi Police, Traffic Police, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Petrol pumps have been divided into zones for better management. Delhi Police will monitor stations numbered 1 to 100, while the Transport Department will handle those from 101 to 159. Each of the 350 key fuel stations will have a traffic police officer on duty, supported by two additional police personnel to maintain law and order. Technological assistance is also being used in the form of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras installed at 498 fuel stations. These cameras, linked to the VAHAN database, will automatically identify vehicles beyond permissible age and alert fuel operators and enforcement authorities. Such vehicles may also be impounded and sent for scrapping. However, the rollout has not been smooth. Fuel station operators and commuters have raised concerns about the lack of preparedness and awareness. Nischal Singhania, a petrol dealer, criticized the move for being rushed without a trial period, questioning how long enforcement teams would remain deployed and how dealers would handle the burden afterward. Many fear being penalized for inadvertently fueling banned vehicles. Commuters also voiced concerns, especially regarding the absence of public awareness campaigns. A commuter named Mohit suggested a 15–30 day trial run to educate the public. He emphasized that those unaware of the new rule, particularly people passing through Delhi, could face serious inconvenience. Staff at some petrol stations, like one in Green Park, admitted they had not received any training on how to identify and deny service to violators. Some citizens questioned the logic behind the blanket ban, pointing out that many older vehicles are well-maintained and may still meet pollution norms. One two-wheeler rider argued for a more nuanced approach that considers a vehicle’s actual condition and suggested that a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) should be the deciding factor instead of age alone. While the fuel ban is a bold step toward reducing pollution, its success depends on effective communication, proper training of enforcement teams, and public cooperation. Without these, what was meant to be a solution could quickly spiral into confusion and confrontation on the ground.

Fuel ban on overage vehicles in national Capital draws mixed reactions from Delhiites

The crackdown follows alarming data from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which, in a November 2024 analysis, revealed that vehicular emissions contribute to 51 per cent of Delhi's local pollution -- the highest share among all sources. Delhi's decision to enforce a strict fuel ban on 'end-of-life' (EoL) vehicles -- petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years -- has drawn mixed reactions from residents of the national Capital. While many have welcomed the move as a necessary step to curb pollution, others have questioned its logic and uniformity. Authorities have already seized two motorcycles flagged under the new policy and sent them for scrapping as part of the enforcement process. The crackdown follows alarming data from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which, in a November 2024 analysis, revealed that vehicular emissions contribute to 51 per cent of Delhi's local pollution -- the highest share among all sources. A local said, "As you know, pollution in Delhi is very high. Considering all these factors, the government's step is very good to remove the overage vehicles." Another added, "Due to pollution, many people suffer. This decision taken by the government is praiseworthy as it will reduce pollution in Delhi." Echoing similar sentiments, another resident said, "The government has taken the right decision to curb pollution in Delhi. Those who are still going on using their EoL vehicles should face strict action."

Non-metros contributing 70% of our sales: BlueStar MD

India experienced extreme weather events on 88% of days in 2024, in one or more parts of the country, as per data by Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth. Between 1993 and 2022, India lost about $180 billion to severe heat and rains, the Climate Risk Index 2025 report said. This climate change, essentially the extreme summer, has also been causing shortage in gig workers for quick commerce players like Zepto, Zomato, Swiggy among others. Bengaluru: The aspirational middle class from tier 3,4 and 5 cities are the new consumers for home appliances company, BlueStar, which are contributing 70% of its sales, Managing Director B Thiragarajan told DH in an interview. “We saw almost 70% of the sales in scal year 2025, as there is a penetration level and good amount of disposable income.,” he said. India has been witnessing a rising demand for consumer goods, including electronics from non-metros as discretionary spending continues to rise. However, 2025 saw a distorted summer with early rain spells and erratic dampening the sales for consumer electronics companies. BlueStar, as the country’s second largest player in airconditioning, witnessed a degrowth of 25% in nancial year 2024-25 (FY25) as compared to the previous year when it saw 57% growth. The cooler than usual summer has hit the sales of several companies including talcum, ice cream, soft drink among others. The unusual weather has emerged as a new threat to India’s 1.4 billion-strong market lately. Despite this, the rm believes that the rest of the year will make up for the degrowth, particularly the festive season. “If the summer has failed a full year, the growth will be there because subsequent seasons do well,” he added. Additionally, the company is investing in customer experience especially as quick commerce has been picking up pace. The Mumbai-headquartered rm has been beeng up delivery on quick commerce platforms, given that it’s increasingly becoming a way of life, especially in metros. For now, Blue Star had to slash production by as much as 25% between April and June, as it saw less buyers. While workforce remains an issue for the home appliances rm with respect to demand, conforming to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has created hurdles in the supply chain because of testing. BlueStar also sells commercial ACs, however, the market size continues to be very small. Presently, the commercial segment is one-tenth of the of the country, as per data by Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth

Severe rainfall alert in Uttarakhand as cloudburst kills 9 in Uttarkashi landslide

“Unregulated construction along riverbanks and steep slopes turns every cloudburst into a potential death sentence,” said Dr. Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment. “We’re building in places that nature never intended for permanent human habitation.” In the fragile hours before sunrise on Sunday, a sudden cloudburst above the Silla village in Uttarkashi district set off a deadly cascade of destruction. The torrential downpour triggered flash floods and a massive landslide that slammed into a construction site near the Yamunotri pilgrimage route, sweeping away tents and laborers in its violent descent. By Monday morning, the grim toll had come into sharper focus: two bodies recovered, seven more feared dead, and a state left shaken under a renewed severe rainfall alert. The victims were laborers and staff stationed at a campsite established for an upcoming resort project. Their lives, like the tin sheds they sheltered in, were torn apart in seconds. According to The Times of India, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, alongside local police and fire services, waded through slush and shattered debris to recover remains and search for survivors. “This was no ordinary rain. It was a brutal cloudburst that came down with ferocity,” said Uttarkashi District Magistrate Meharban Singh Bisht. “9 feared dead in pre-dawn flash flood at Uttarkashi resort construction site.” The cloudburst struck at approximately 2:45 a.m., as most of the workers were asleep in temporary shelters near the under-construction Yamunotri Bhawan. Located roughly 4 kilometers from the Yamunotri temple, the site is nestled in a region long vulnerable to cloudbursts and glacial runoff. Char Dham yatra suspended then restored The disaster forced the temporary suspension of the Char Dham yatra, one of India’s most sacred pilgrimages. Authorities closed the Barkot-Yamunotri road for over 24 hours, citing debris blockages and treacherous terrain. The route was reopened Monday afternoon after emergency crews cleared key chokepoints. “Safety of pilgrims is our top priority. We urge travelers to avoid the route during night hours and heed all weather advisories,” said a senior official from the Uttarakhand Tourism Department. “Uttarakhand cloudburst: 24-hour ban on Char Dham lifted.” Despite the restoration of road access, authorities have kept the severe rainfall alert in force for Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Pithoragarh districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of more heavy precipitation, thunderstorms, and localized flooding through Wednesday. Rising risk under changing skies This latest incident has reignited concern over the climate vulnerability of Uttarakhand, a state prone to flash floods, landslides, and seismic instability. Experts have long warned that rapid infrastructure development along sensitive Himalayan slopes is compounding the risk of catastrophic weather events. “Unregulated construction along riverbanks and steep slopes turns every cloudburst into a potential death sentence,” said Dr. Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment. “We’re building in places that nature never intended for permanent human habitation.” In February this year, a similar cloudburst in Joshimath led to widespread panic, displacing over 1,000 people. Now, with monsoon rains intensifying and glacial melt increasing due to global warming, the warnings have turned into regular realities. “Two killed, seven feared dead after landslide triggered by cloudburst.”

Yamuna near Taj Mahal heavily polluted with Microplastics, CSE study warns

A recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has found alarming concentrations of microplastic pollution in a 12-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna riverbed near the Taj Mahal. Among four sites studied, this section showed the highest sediment contamination, with 800 microplastic particles per kilogram, significantly higher than Poiya Ghat (480 mps), Parvathi Ghat, and Balkeshwar Ghat (600 mps). The main sources were identified as runoff from cloth-washing, plastic packaging, tyre wear, and fabric waste. Textile fibres constituted 57 per cent of detected particles, followed by fragments from packaging at 36 per cent. Black particles, often linked to tyre wear, made up 27 per cent of the total, with yellow microplastics forming 21 per cent. Toxic fibre and tyre particles dominate sediment pollution The study began in 2024 and included sampling of both surface water and sediment. Although there are no current legal limits for microplastics in India, the CSE flagged the findings as well above levels recorded in other rivers, including the Ganga, where sediment samples from Bengal had shown 428 mps. The report was shared at the Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute in Rajasthan and has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Delhi govt’s new anti-pollution plan lacks integrated approach: Expert

Plan unveiled for the world’s most polluted city could do with more technology and better air quality monitoring, says CSE’s Shambhavi Shukla The Delhi government’s Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025, announced this month, is promising but lacks an integrated comprehensive approach. There are many good things about the new plan to counter pollution, but a far bigger effort is needed,” Shambhavi Shukla of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) told this reporter. What Shukla said Recognising that vehicular emission was one of the bigger pollutants, BJP's Delhi government said that only BS-VI vehicles, CNG vehicles and electric vehicles will be allowed entry into the Union territory after November 1, 2025. This feature will not apply to vehicles already registered in Delhi and would apply to commercial vehicles – large medium and heavy good vehicles.

Yamuna stretch near Taj Mahal chokes on microplastics, study finds

Lucknow: A new study has uncovered dangerously high levels of microplastic pollution in the Yamuna riverbed near the iconic Taj Mahal, raising red flags for both environmental and public health. The findings, released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), reveal that a 12-kilometre stretch of the river carries the heaviest load of microplastics among four locations surveyed along the Yamuna. The study, which began in 2024, sampled sediment and surface water from Poiya Ghat, Parvathi Ghat, Hathi Ghat, and the Taj Mahal stretch. The sediment collected near the Taj Mahal contained a staggering 800 microplastic particles (mps) per kilogram — far higher than the 480 to 600 mps recorded at the other sites. While Hathi Ghat reported the highest microplastic concentration in surface water (46 mps per cubic metre) due to intensive cloth-washing activities and wastewater discharge, the Taj Mahal stretch followed with 17 mps per cubic metre, making it the second-most polluted in terms of water contamination. The data was presented at the Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute in Nimli, Rajasthan, and has since been forwarded to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Delhi: Nehru Park set to host 150 air purifiers in anti-pollution plan

“The best example is our two Delhi smog towers at Anand Vihar and Connaught Place. As of now, we have not seen any evidence to suggest how air purifiers outside can clean up air in an effective radius in the city,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment. The Delhi government will install 150 outdoor air purifiers at Nehru Park in a pilot project aimed at creating the city’s first “clean air zone,” environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, outlining a plan that experts called unviable and impractical. Sirsa said the devices, upto nine-feet-tall PM 2.5 particulate matter filters, will be spread across the 85-acre park and maintain “good” air quality even during peak pollution periods. “This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to improve air quality in the city. It will be a first-of-its-kind pilot project in the country to improve air quality at a public park,” Sirsa told HT. The announcement comes as Delhi has grappled for years with hazardous air pollution levels that peak in the transition to winter. It follows the closure of two expensive smog towers that authorities deemed ineffective, after the then Aam Aadmi Party government touted them as first-of-its-kind solutions to the city’s bad air crisis. In 2023, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee called the Connaught Place smog tower experiment ineffective in improving outdoor air quality. The new project will be carried out through a corporate social responsibility partnership with private firm Umeandus, which has tested the technology at four locations including Anand Vihar, a Jangpura petrol pump, New Moti Bagh and outside the Taj Ambassador hotel. Each purifier will cover approximately 600 square metres and requires approval from the New Delhi Municipal Council before installation can begin, Sirsa said. The devices are easy to install and occupy minimal space, according to the minister. Officials said each machine costs around ₹5 lakh and the project will be funded through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Experts questioned the viability of outdoor air purification technology, pointing to the failure of previous initiatives. “The best example is our two Delhi smog towers at Anand Vihar and Connaught Place. As of now, we have not seen any evidence to suggest how air purifiers outside can clean up air in an effective radius in the city,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment.

Catapults to Cameras: A Simplistic Lens on Complex Conservation Challenges in India

Sunita Narain, director general of New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), was the chairperson of the task force. She was also my editor at the Down To Earth magazine where I was a reporter. Storytelling from the heartlands of our country is extremely complex. The narratives have shades of grey and defy the simplistic evil vs virtuous stands. There are Waghoba shrines in forest areas dedicated to tigers/leopards that are worshipped by the local communities; there are also festivals, like the Sikari Utsav, which celebrate hunting. My first encounter with this paradox was 20 years ago, in 2005, at the Melghat Tiger Reserve in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. It was when the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Project Tiger) had set up a task force to review the management of tiger reserves in the country. Battlelines had been forcibly drawn between the big cat and the local forest communities that were being displaced for the conservation of the tiger. Sunita Narain, director general of New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), was the chairperson of the task force. She was also my editor at the Down To Earth magazine where I was a reporter. The situation was tense at Melghat where I visited several villages bordering the core area and within the buffer zone of the tiger reserve. Churni, Pastalai, and Vairath villages were slated for an immediate relocation and rehabilitation. The Gawli community, traditionally cattle rearers and milk supplies inhabited Churni and Vairath, and it was the Korku tribe that lived in Pastalia; most of them practised subsistence farming. These communities claimed they had lived in the forest lands alongside wild animals for generations. The cattle belonging to the Gawlis grazed in the jungle. The villagers were being evicted from the forests to save the tiger, whom they worshipped as waghoba. “Till now we used to live with the bagh [tiger] and did not disturb it. But now if I see a bagh, I will shoot it down because it is forcing us to turn homeless,” an elderly member of the Gawli community from Vairath told me. The government had made alternative arrangements for these villagers but most were unhappy with the rehabilitation package and the ‘poor’ quality of land that was allotted to them. Villagers of Vairath were allotted land in a river! I remember struggling to write that report. It was a complex situation. Should one ‘side’ with the government and conservationists who wanted the forest-dwelling communities out of the forest to protect a flagship species. Or, should it be about the rights of the Adivasis and forest dwelling communities who have lived there for generations and have known no other home? Their lives and livelihoods directly depended on the forests. My editor Narain, sensing my conflict, advised me, “Just write what you found out and what the villagers and forest officials told you. Conservation in our country is a complex matter and there are no easy answers and simple solutions.” These words have stayed with me and guided me as I tread the path of an environmental journalist. Every new story that I have reported on, has presented another complex facet of conservation in the country. One of them is about the hunting festival in West Bengal held during the dry season (March-May) in the districts of Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia, and Birbhum. As part of this annual hunting festival, thousands of men and boys, armed with bows, arrows and catapults, enter the forests to hunt wild boars and wild hares. In her film Catapults to Cameras, a 40-minute film produced by RoundGlass Sustain, director Ashwika Kapur, a Kolkata-born wildlife filmmaker says, “It is an unnerving sight. Villagers return from the forest carrying hoards of dead wild animals and birds. Anything they find moving or crawling in the forest, they kill it. It is gory and shocking because such hunting is banned.” Catapults to Cameras was recently screened at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai. Post screening, the filmmaker joined the audience virtually for an interactive session. RoundGlass Sustain is a not-for-profit initiative that tells stories of India's natural world to document science, create awareness, and support conservation. Kapur said that the film sets out on a deeply personal quest to uncover the roots of an illegal wildlife hunting festival in the forests of her home state, West Bengal. She described the annual hunting festival as an illegal blood sport, where thousands of protected animals are massacred.

Ammonium sulfate contributes to one-third of Faridabad’s PM2.5 pollution

Gurgaon: Ammonium sulfate is responsible for a staggering one-third of Faridabad's PM2.5 concentration, according to a study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), which underlined the need for National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to take a closer look at the secondary pollutant. Ammonium sulfate forms insidiously in the atmosphere through chemical reactions between sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and ammonia (NH₃). CREA's analysis reveals that this pollutant, averaging 19.76 µg/m³ out of a total PM2.5 level of 58.28 µg/m³ of Faridabad mean data, is prevalent across nearly all NCAP cities, irrespective of their proximity to major emission sources, therefore showing the need for a unified national strategy. NCAP primarily targets PM10. However, PM2.5 poses great danger to human health, its smaller size allowing it to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. The health impacts are severe, ranging from increased risk of premature death, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and even lung cancer. Faridabad's designation as the sole ‘non-attainment' city in Haryana under the NCAP highlights its consistent failure to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These precursor gases are commonly spewed from coal-fired thermal power plants, agricultural fertiliser use and livestock waste — sources that often extend far beyond city limits. The new study further highlights the complex challenges cities are facing. The transboundary nature of ammonium sulfate pollution means that local emission controls, while necessary, are insufficient on their own. A comprehensive, national approach is imperative to tackle this pervasive and deadly component of India's air pollution crisis, ensuring cleaner air for all its citizens. "To make real progress, NCAP must evolve to include targeted measures for reducing secondary pollutants," said Manoj Kumar, an analyst at CREA, adding that city and state-level clean air action plans must explicitly tackle major sources of precursor gases. Kumar also emphasised the importance of source-specific strategies, such as installing flue-gas desulfurisation units in coal-fired power plants to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, promoting efficient fertiliser management to curb ammonia release and ensuring strict compliance with existing emission norms across all polluting sectors. The study serves as a wake-up call for policymakers to recalibrate India's clean air strategy, shifting focus from just visible dust to invisible but deadly chemical reactions that are silently poisoning the air. "In addition to ammonium sulfate, other secondary pollutants like ammonium nitrate also contribute significantly to PM2.5 mass. In fact, secondary particles can account for up to 50% of total PM2.5 mass, according to an IIT study which triggered our analysis. The IIT study found that even beyond 200km of a thermal plant, sulfate concentrations were found," he added. Experts also pointed out that the air pollution crisis in cities like Faridabad might not improve until the govt takes all parameters into account. "The dominance of ammonium sulfate in Faridabad's PM2.5 profile is a stark reminder that India's air pollution crisis is no longer just about visible smoke or dust. It's about invisible chemical transformations driven by coal and fertiliser emissions. Without a strategic shift to tackle secondary pollutants and precursor gases, cities like Faridabad will continue to choke under a haze that knows no boundaries," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). "We recognise the growing complexity of air pollution in Faridabad, especially the role of secondary pollutants like ammonium sulfate. We are factoring in results of the recent source apportionment study to expand our monitoring network to better understand and tackle these emerging challenges," said an HSPCB official. NCAP is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in Jan 2019. Its primary goal is to improve air quality in 131 cities across India, known as non-attainment cities and million-plus cities. The programme aims at achieving a 20-30% reduction in particulate matter concentrations by 2024, using 2017 as the base year. Recently, the target was updated to a 40% reduction by 2026.